Air-valve for radiators.



T. H. SCHUH Am VALVE Pon RADIATos.

APPLTIOATION FILED MAY.14,1912. l

Patented June 23, 1914 im @y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE H. SCHUTT. OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BISHOP-BABCQCK-BECKER COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AIR-VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application Ied yay 14, 1912. Serial No. 697,143.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.'

Beit known that I, THEoDoRE H. Soi-Iori, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Valves for Radiators, ofwhich 'the following is a specification, the principle of they inventionbeing herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The present invention relates to an improvement -in air valves forradiators, and is so constructed that itmay be readily taken apart andworn parts replaced when necessary. It is also designed to be selfadjusting and provision is made for the addition of a manually operablevalve as well as the usual thermostatic valve. The particular thermostatic valve which is here employed is also new and a considerableimprovement over those heretofore used. Although my invention isparticularly adapted for use with radiatorsit may of course, be used inother connections. To the accomplishment of these and related ends saidinvention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism 'embodying' the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the radiatorvalve embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section on vthe line2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but only partly insection,

and having a manually operated valve in addition to a thermostaticvalve; Fig. 4.- is a section on the line 1 -Ll in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 isa section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 2.

In Figs. l and 2 it will be seen that my valve comprises an outer'casing formed of two parts 1 and 2, the latter being externally threadedadapting it to engage the upper portion 1. The upper portion is providedwith a passage 3 leading from the upper casing downwardly, andterminating in the tubular extension t which is externally threadedadapting it to be attached to one of the coils of the radiator. Thelower portion of the casing is externally threaded adapting it to engagethe cap 5 in which is held a tube 6 having its upper portion vmadespherical to adapt it to seat tightly against the spherical end of thelower casing 2, thus forming what is known as a ground joint.

The passage 3 will of course, be the inlet passage from the radiator'and will open into the upper portion of the upper casing 1 which is ofconsiderable extent adapting it to receive the manually operable valveshown in Fig. 3, and hereinaftermore fully described. The fluid from theradiator will pass from this passage 3, downwardly through the casing 1,out the inlet connection of the lower casing 2, and then to the tubeitself. Between the ends of the upper casing and below the inlet openingis an'inwardly projecting collar 7 having apertures Q5 for the passageof the discharging fluid. The collar has also a central aperture engagedby the plug 8 which forms, with the disk 9, the stopper of thethermostatic valve and the reservoir for the expansible fluid designedto control the valve. The construction of this thermostatic valve isextremely simple. The plug 8 is iirst made with an aperture in its upperportion. The disk 9 is then attached to the plug, entering the groove1() formed in the lower surface of the latter, and being held therein bya suitable material such as tin or lead. The valve is then filled to acertain point by the expan# sible liquid (see Fig. 2) and the small pin11 is driven into the aperture in the upper part of the plug. To insurean absolutely sealed valve I lill the cup shaped apparatus above thispin with lead 12. On the lower casing there is a second inwardlyprojecting and internally threaded collar 13 which is adapt-- ed toreceive an apertured valve seat 14 of tubular form and preferably ofhard rubber, or other material which is adapted to soften when heated.By makinor this valve seat of such material it is possibile for smallgrains of sand to be lodged upon the upper surface of the seat and yetnot in' 1re that portion of the diaphragm which for s the stopper whenthe latter is forced on the seat by the .thermostatic fluid, since thesand will merely alinement, thus securing a tight closure. I am ofcourse, aware that the use of hard rubber as seats in radiator valves isold, as it has been customary to form the seat of a long tubular portionof hard rubber which,`

itseli:` is adapted to be the thermostatic valve,

since rubber upon heating will expand to a seated upon the collar 7, andhaving a projection 17 extending laterally therefrom, and forming ashoulder. Between the cap 18 which will engage the upper casing and thecasing itself, I place a thin diaphragm 19 which will normally be flexedaway from the plane of its supports or upwardly. Above this diaphragm Iplace a member 2O which is engaged by a bolt Q1, attached to the handwheel 22, and threaded in the cap 18. By manipulating this hand Wheelthe member 2O is forced against the diaphragm and the latter is giventhe slight impetus to spring it into its lower position, thus securingand closing the opening in the tubular body 16. The spring 23 is placedaround the upper portion of the neck against the diaphragm and thecollar 14, and tends to force the Adiaphragm normally away from theopening in the collar, and will return it to its normal position uponrelease by the hand wheel.

It is desirable to prevent the introduction of dirt to the thermostatievalve although with the present construction the danger of cutting thevalve is greatly lessened. Io this end I employ a strainer 2G which inthe form shown in Fig. 2 is held in an annulus Q7 which is fitted snuglyinto the casing above the collar 7. In the form shown in Fig. 3 thestrainer may be attached to the body of the tubular body 16.

By making the rubber seat 14 of smaller size than the interior of thelower casing and by rounding the top or engaging face of the seat it ispossible to permit the space between the seat and the casing tocompletely lill with water and to almost cover the seat proper. 'Thisprevents any deposit of dirt forming on the seat, which is so common acause of wear. rIhe dirt will collect at the bottom of this space andmay be removed by unscrewmg the lower casing from the upper. My casingis designed with a View to the easy adjustment or removal of all partsas well as to a simple assembly. Other advantages are the drop inletpassage, the provision for the addition or a manually operable valvewithout further inconvenience than the substitution of a cap connectedto such a valve for the cap shown in Fig. 52, and the. construction ofthe manually operable and thermostatic valves.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may bc employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regai-ds themechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a radiator valve, the combination of a casing havingalined inlet and outlet openings, a removable cover for said casingalined with such openings, two inwardly extending and substantiallyalined collars mounted in said casing between such openings, a valveseat mounted in one of said collars, a thermo-static valve membermounted in the other of said collars and adapted to engage said seat,and a strainer removably mounted in said casing between such openingsand upon the last-named of said collars, said strainer being removablefrom said casing upon removal of said cover.

2. In a radiator Valve, the combination of a substantially cylindricaljcasing Open at both ends; a cover removably attached to one end of saidcasing; a laterally disposed inlet opening adjacent the same cnd of saidcasing; an inwardly extending collar having.

apertures therethrough, said collar being mounted in said casingadjacent said inlet opening; a second inwardly projecting collarremovably mountedin the opposite end of said casing; a valve seatmounted in said last named collar; a thermostatic valve saidinletopening, said strainer being re-` movable from said casing uponremoval of said cover.

Signed by me this 18 day of May, 1912.

THEODORE II. SCHUTT.

Attested by- Jos. II. CHAMP, HORACE B. FAY.

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